METTLESOME Synonyms: 123 Similar and Opposite Words

mettlesome

adjective

ˈme-tᵊl-səm

Definition of mettlesome

as in energetic

having much high-spirited energy and movement the mettlesome opening dance number got the audience all jazzed up

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in fiery

marked by a lively display of strong feeling a mettlesome debate on the teaching of evolution in the schools

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Recent Examples of mettlesome He may have been provoked into battle by the ruler of Cebu, who was using Magellan’s troops to rid himself of a mettlesome chieftain known to raid the trade ships that navigated the waters in and around the islands. — Tim Carman, Washington Post, 14 Nov. 2022

Recent Examples of Synonyms for mettlesome

Adjective

Even small toe-taps or a light head bob accompanies the least energetic.

— Sophie Lindberg, Kansas City Star, 12 July 2026
Adrian, creative and energetic from childhood on—and raised in the presence of movie cameras—became a filmmaker himself, fusing a passion for extreme skiing with his cinematic sensibility.

— Marina Harss, New Yorker, 10 July 2026

Definition of energetic

Adjective

The actress and comedian, 46, turned up the heat in a fiery red dress at the 2026 ESPYS.

— Jaclyn Hendricks, PEOPLE, 16 July 2026
The satellites would only survive about 20 minutes before ultimately plunging to their fiery doom reentering Earth’s atmosphere.

— Lee Billings & Claire Cameron, Scientific American, 16 July 2026

Definition of fiery

Adjective

The three episodes of this outstanding series that were made available cements the claim that some of the most creative animated storytelling is being generated from anime.

— Randy Myers, Mercury News, 16 July 2026
As an animated franchise, How to Train Your Dragon has shown admirable profitability and cultural staying power.

— Chris Lee, Vulture, 14 July 2026

Definition of animated

Adjective

But as soon as Rena Owen comes to the fore as Tala, Moana’s spirited grandmother (an elderly rebel who’s going to set this tale in motion), her playful aging-hippie spark connects.

— Owen Gleiberman, Variety, 8 July 2026
Off a counterattack following an Argentina corner, Mo Salah made a spirited run down the middle of the pitch.

— NBC News, NBC news, 7 July 2026

Definition of spirited

Adjective

Inside, a lively party plays out — a cacophony of voices, skin, shimmer, bottles, joy and hormones on repeat.

— Abbey White, HollywoodReporter, 16 July 2026
From creators Liz Heldens and Matt Ward, the as-yet-untitled series follows Heidi (Banks), who is fresh off a messy divorce and sets out to secure a lively second act for herself and her kids.

— Rosy Cordero, Deadline, 16 July 2026

Definition of lively

Adjective

Zann eventually got a call from casting director Meredith Layne and a screenplay with lines that were instantly familiar from her time voicing Rogue, the spunky heroine whose touch can be deadly, in the ‘90s.

— Carlos Aguilar, Los Angeles Times, 10 July 2026
The spunky comedy streaming service couldn’t hit the mainstream enough to attract voters, despite some very funny programming.

— William Earl, Variety, 8 July 2026

Definition of spunky

Adjective

To imagine the natural world not as a passive resource but as an animate collaborator would be to reorder more than aesthetic categories, demanding another relation to our environment.

— Tara Anne Dalbow, ARTnews.com, 29 May 2026
Zugunruhe is the itinerant desire of any animate being to keep moving and growing.

— Big Think, Big Think, 6 May 2026

Definition of animate

Adjective

Yet what elevates The Daily Show, and produced so many offspring, is that its point of view is obvious and passionate—without shading into outright campaigning.

— Chris Smith, Vanity Fair, 13 July 2026
Playing in front of a passionate home Mexican crowd, Jimenez had an excellent tournament, leading the line for Javier Aguirre’s side.

— Tom Burrows, New York Times, 12 July 2026

Definition of passionate

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“Mettlesome.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/mettlesome. Accessed 17 Jul. 2026.

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Synonyms of mettlesome

adjective

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